Transplant Beneficiaries Association calls for a single electronic file and patient advocates in every hospital
Iulia Iațco, president of the Transplant Beneficiaries Association, states that one of the major challenges faced by patients awaiting transplants in the Republic of Moldova is the shortage of patient advocates and immunosuppressive drugs. She believes that establishing a patient council in each hospital and creating a unified electronic file would simplify access to treatment and enhance the relationship between patients and the medical system.
On Radio Moldova's "Zi de Zi" program, Iulia Iatco described the current situation as "complicated," primarily due to the low number of organ donors and issues with essential medications. She noted, "We don't have enough organ donors. We even have problems with immunosuppressive drugs [...] preparations that are vital for supporting the patient." She emphasized that cooperation among doctors, the Transplant Agency, and the Ministry of Health is essential to develop a functional system.
In the advanced stages of disease, patients require not only medical interventions but also emotional and social support. Iatco explained, "Symptoms often appear quite late—when the disease is at an advanced stage, it becomes incurable, and transplantation remains the only solution." She highlighted the need for patients and their families to receive "support from society [...] and empathy from doctors."
Iatco noted that during the first weeks after a diagnosis, patients often find themselves in an information vacuum. "People in the early weeks experience this vacuum. They can't believe what they hear and begin searching for information from various sources." Additionally, she mentioned that the lack of state financial support for patient organizations complicates their efforts.
She believes it is crucial to establish mechanisms for patient representation. "We lack patient advocates—individuals who can serve as intermediaries between the medical community, state institutions, and patients. This absence is greatly felt," Iatco stated. The president of the association is convinced that these advocates would significantly help rebuild trust, noting, "At present, we seem to be on different sides of a divide [...] which is counterproductive."
Among her proposed immediate solutions is the creation of representation structures within medical institutions. "First and foremost, we need patient advocates, and [...] a patient council in each hospital, and possibly a National Council as well," she stated, emphasizing the necessity for transparency and ensuring patients have easy access to information within the system.
Another critical step would be the digitalization of processes, including the establishment of an electronic file accessible to all involved doctors. "It's straightforward—the electronic patient record system [...] because we need to overcome the issue of carrying full folders of paperwork," Iatco argued.
Currently, Iatco indicated that approximately 70 people in the Republic of Moldova are on the waiting list for a liver transplant, but only a maximum of seven patients benefit from such surgical interventions each year.
Author: Svetlana Bogatu
